- This topic has 35 replies, 13 voices, and was last updated 14 years ago by Jeff in Kentucky.
New Rider + Other stuff.
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April 6, 2010 at 8:06 pm #3847DinugePampleParticipant
I posted a thread about insurance a couple days ago, and I’ve got all that settled out. I’m going to a dealership Thursday to check it out and see if they have any used 2008-2010 Ninja 250R’s. I’m really set on getting a 2008, but I was wondering if there was any difference between the years? Like anything really major? Other than the price.
I’m 5’3″ and 120lbs, female. Would this be a good bike for me? I’ve got kinda short legs. But we will see if I can manage to sit on it without feeling too stupid. And even then, I could probably lower the seat, right? There are some pretty beat-up roads around here too, would that be a problem for the ninja? I read it didn’t do too well..
I live in Florida. I was considering using the bike as my main form of transportation. I’d be riding it to and from a community college, and work. So I’ll just have a backpack/side saddle bag with me most of the time. Anyway, what I wanted to ask was would it be better for me to get a leather jacket or textile? It’s going to be super hot out, so I’m leaning more toward a textile, but I read in another thread that someone used a warm weather leather jacket? Is there such a thing?
I need some good boots too. I’m a size 7 with wide feet and slim ankles. What would be a good brand? I’ve never had any luck with good boots. Also I need some good pants. I don’t know if I wanna go with a really sturdy denim that has some textile-ish material too, or what? I think it would get too hot here in summer.
I’m planning on taking a course soon, $275 for a a first class which familiarizes you with the bike ($75), then the second actual class ($200). I’ve ridden a three-wheeler almost every summer since I was 13. Would that knowledge help at all?
A lot of questions!
April 6, 2010 at 8:39 pm #25480WeaponZeroParticipantAs far as the bike goes, its perfect for you.
Side saddle bag is a bad idea but backpack is ok.
In the florida heat I recommend textile unless you want to buy not one, but TWO leather jackets for the extremely hot and for the cooler days.
Boots. Unfortunately Sidi is the only brand that makes riding boots available in wide sizes and they are ridiculously expensive. However there are other brands such as Icon and TCX that run wider than normal even though they’re not marked as such.
For pants, there are a number of choices but a good pair of overpants is a good idea. Icon has a wide selection of women’s riding gear.
April 6, 2010 at 10:08 pm #25482Gary856ParticipantPerforated leather jacket/pants have a bunch of tiny pin holes – if you hold it up against the light you can see light thru them. They allow a surprising amount of air movement when you’re moving. If you want leather jacket in warm weather, perhaps get a white one to reflect the heat in direct sunlight.
If it’s 90 deg or above, or muggy like in Florida, “mesh” textile jacket and pants really makes a big difference. “Mesh” means a much looser weave (bigger holes) than standard textile material, sacraficing abrasion protection, but still have paddings in elbows/shoulders/knees, and is much cooler. It almost feels like you’re wearing nothing in terms of cooling.
For boots, decide if you want water-proof (to deal with summer downpours but hotter), or ones with ventillation (cooler but may get your feet wet in the rain).
By 3-wheelers I assume you mean 3-wheel ATVs. Motorcycles have 2 wheels, which are very different in terms of steering and handling from 3-and-4-wheeled vehicles. I find bicycling experience, especially off-road mountain biking experience, very helpful when I started riding motorcycles, but it was still a steep learning curve to ride motorcycles well.
April 6, 2010 at 10:12 pm #25483DinugePampleParticipantBy the three wheeler I meant ATVs, yes. But I meant it in terms of shifting, mainly the mechanics of them.
April 7, 2010 at 12:00 am #25488TrialsRiderParticipantThe three wheeler I had was equipped with a semi-automatic 5 speed transmission, no clutch and both hand levers operated brakes, so if yours was like that, the simple answer is no. Other than giving you a concept of what a laboring engine sounds like and what it sounds like when it’s time to shift, that does little to prepare you for the bike.
Good news is; I got rid of that three wheeler because every time someone came up to the farm and used it they got hurt ! I consider a full out motorcycle far safer than the experience I had with that trike. It steered like crap, particularly when it went up on 2 wheels, ( which was frequent) went way too fast ( what were they thinking when they geared them for such speed ) , ran over your leg the instant you put a foot down and flipped backwards way too quick going up steep hills.
I concur with WeponZero on the back pack being best, although it will be even hotter on your back from the extra layers ! I trust gloves are on your list. You don’t need to spend a fortune, personally I prefer the inexpensive mechanics type gloves with a single layer palm, as they don’t give you calluses as badly. Any gloves are better than none, because in a spill your reflex is to extend your hand and break the fall. ( which is a bad idea by the way )
For what it’s worth, I always ride wearing gloves and a helmet but seldom any other protective gear ( Garne boots on the Trials bike, moccasin boots on the street bike ) …but then, I do all my falling off on my Trials bike and plan to never crash on the street, so don’t go by me on the rest of the gear.April 7, 2010 at 1:17 am #25490briderdtParticipantbefore a backpack. I’ve got the Icon tank bag that converts into a backpack with a flap that will hold your helmet. It’s held on by magnets, so when I shut the bike down, it just pulls off and I’m ready to go. And it holds quite a bit also.
April 7, 2010 at 1:44 am #25492DinugePampleParticipantHahah, yeah I think that’s the one we have. I’ve never wrecked it, only slipped in the sand a bit, though my brother has put it through hell. He dumped it in the pond, hit a tree, everything you can imagine. He isn’t allowed to ride it now of course. We use it mainly for hauling away dead trees near the dear blinds. But we get some fun use out of it. I hated going into fifth gear. I never did it, because of all the stupid sand everywhere. My dad almost broke my ankle on it. We were going pretty fast down a trail that hadn’t been cut for a year or so, and there was a log he didn’t see, my foot was down near the pegs, behind his, and it popped up, trapped my foot and he kept going. Thankfully it was a pretty rotten log or else I’m sure we would’ve hauled butt the the emergency room. I started screaming at him to stop, which he did after he figured out we weren’t moving. The log fell apart after he stopped. Got away with a bruised ankle!
I’ve heard that a lot, but I don’t know how you’re supposed to go down. Turn onto your back? I was definitely going to get gloves. I’ve found some good stuff. It’s all matchy-matchy too! Pink and white! You know how girls love matching!
April 7, 2010 at 1:45 am #25493DinugePampleParticipantI was looking at those. I think I might get that so I won’t have to lug around a helmet. I wouldn’t want to leave it on my bike.
April 7, 2010 at 12:22 pm #25499CBBaronParticipantNinja 250s are great starter bikes. The suspension can be lowered if you need it but you give up suspension range and some cornering as it lowers the pegs.
I find that my Ninja handles the poor roads better than my car but I have the older Ninja model which has softer suspension. I would expect the newer model would be a little more harsh but would not be upset much.A magnetic tank bag is a convenient way to carry a small amount on the bike. Similar in size to a student back pack or a little smaller. They are easily removed and most come with some kind of shoulder strap.
Craig
April 8, 2010 at 12:40 am #25511Jeff in KentuckyParticipant1. Try not to crash first- look where you want to go, practice slow turns in a parking lot, and stay away from hilly roads and crowded roads for a few months.
2. If the bike is going down, get away from it. It will hurt if its weight or the hot exhaust pipe falls onto your body parts.
3. It is best to land butt first rather than jaw, chest or hands first, but it is not easy to learn. I used to swing on a rope and jump into a pond, twisting my body to land either feet or hands first, and I think this previous learning helped during the one faster high side crash I had, to twist in the air to land butt first, then my back and the back of my helmet hit the pavement, then I slid on my back, with my head up to look for any cars to roll away from. I just had bruises from the crash, and a piece of coat hanger and pliers to fix the broken clutch lever enough to get home.
April 8, 2010 at 4:02 am #25516IBA270ParticipantI’m not even sure what to say to all of that…
Ummm, yea, well, don’t crash. If you’re about to crash, you probably don’t know enough to recognize it. And if you DO crash, you’re already in full “oh shit, I can’t believe this is happening” mode.
Jeff, you had a high side, twisted in the air, landed on your ass (etc.) and had some type of controlled slide to the point of being able to look for cars? And all you had from a high side were bruises?
And you’ve had more than one high side, this particular one being “faster”?
And you learned from swinging from a rope into a pond?
With all of my formalized training, my experience in teaching both on road and at the track; I think I’ve been cheated. I’ve never been taught how to crash, nor do I know how to teach one how to crash.
I’m not throwing rocks at you…just…I’m kinda at a loss on that one…
April 8, 2010 at 4:11 am #25520DinugePampleParticipantHopefully I won’t have to. Even if I did, it would only be a little. Just enough so I wouldn’t have to be tippy toeing it all the time.
April 8, 2010 at 4:13 am #25521DinugePampleParticipantCrashing doesn’t sound like fun. At all, but it’s gonna happen, one way or another. So I just wanted to see which would be better. I want to keep my face pretty.
I’ve had a good deal experience rope jumping, I’m a pro at that. Hahaha…
I guess it was a stupid question. Asking “how” to crash.
April 8, 2010 at 4:15 am #25523ShamRock229ParticipantYeah its best to try to avoid the “oh shit” feeling… to be honest, it didnt hit me that I crashed the first time until I had to pay for the repairs haha but seriously,i think there are too many things happening at once during a crash (plus it happens so quickly) for you to be able to analyze every aspect of your situation before you and your bike are both on your ass.
The best way to protect yourself for a crash is to be protected before it even happens.
April 8, 2010 at 4:18 am #25524ShamRock229ParticipantThe best way to keep your face pretty is to keep your head up and helmet strapped.
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